Tonight’s Bible study looked at 1 Cor 3:12-23. Paul talks about how to build well, reminding us that the Day is coming when an assessment will be made of how we have lived. These days, performances are continually assessed at work and usually these reviews instil a fear of failure in us, because we know that it is performance which is judged, not necessarily how hard we have tried. God, however, does look at our motives and judges by different criteria to the world’s standards (see Mark 12:41-44, Acts 5:1-5). There is no mention of quantity in this list, only quality: our life works of faith are being assessed, and if our motive is to please God, this is enough (unlike those who do their ‘acts of righteousness’ to be honoured by others, see Matt 6:1-4).
Paul reminds us that we are living temples in whom God’s Spirit dwells. We need to build with care, for the church is the temple of God and if anyone harms (destroys, vandalises) God’s temple, God will do the same to them. Rom 15:1-2 reminds us that we need to bear with others, seeking to please our neighbours for their good to build them up; Eph 4:29-32 reminds us that our speech must not be unwholesome (like food that has gone off) but we need to build others up and forgive when we fail. This is serious business, for God is holy and sacred.
Paul concludes this chapter by reminding the Corinthians once again of the differences between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. If we use conventional wisdom, we will never see things through God’s perspective (just as Michal completely misjudged David when he danced before the Lord on the return of the ark to Israel (2 Sam 6:14-22) and the disciples wanted to ban children from coming to Jesus. (Matt 19:13-14)) We can be so concerned with dignity, reverence and the ‘proper’ way to do things at times that we judge (or misjudge) people’s heart motives. God has given us so much, Paul reminds us, that we have no need to follow leaders in ways that hurt and divide the church. If we are mature, we need to show it by how we live: God has given us so much that we simply need to pursue Him with all our hearts!